Ben Bernstein, LCSW

He/Him

Are you feeling ostracized, excluded, “othered,” or ridiculed?  Feeling as if you are placing unrealistic expectations on yourself, with very little perceived room for error? 

It’s an awful feeling: the world's weight on your shoulders, not knowing where you fit, wondering where it’s safe to connect and gain support.  Attempting to navigate this terrain on your own can feel insurmountable.  

The great thing is that there is hope; you don’t have to go through it alone.  I have worked in several different settings, including residential care, healthcare, community outpatient mental health, and at the University of Illinois.  My therapeutic approach is warm, inviting, and direct.  I’m passionate about my work and take great care in attending to my client’s needs, working collaboratively to reach their goals.  There is nothing more professionally rewarding than to witness and be part of a client’s growth.

Schedule a Session With Ben >>

Areas of Focus

I enjoy working with adults and older adults with the following challenges…

Adjustment to Life Transitions | Grief and Loss | Exploration of Identity/Meaning | Academic/Professional Stress and Burnout | Depression and Anxiety | LGBTQIA+ |

  • Experience

    - I have 12 years of social work experience in community-based outpatient mental health clinics in the Champaign-Urbana area

    - I have 3 years of mental health experience working in a residential treatment setting

  • Education

    - Bachelor’s in Psychology from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    - Master’s of Social Work from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Fun Facts

    - I have a corgi pup named Bruce

    - I am a Green Bay Packers fan

    - I enjoy playing the guitar in my free time


“If you stop trying to make yourself more than you are, out of fear that you are less than you are, whoever you really are will be a lot lighter and happier and easier to live with, too.”

-Jon Kabat-Zinn